East Penn Elementary School awarded $1,000 by Walmart

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Gail Maholick/TIMES NEWS Walmart representatives stopped by East Penn Elementary School to present a check of $1,000 as part of the Teacher Reward Program. From left are, Christen Strohl, zone supervisor; Brian Smith, assistant manager; and Gretchen Laviolette, principal at the school.

Teachers at East Penn Elementary School are great, at least Walmart thinks so.

Walmart representatives, Brian Smith, assistant manager; and Christen Strohl, zone supervisor, recognized 10 teachers and support staff with a check of $1,000 to help the school purchase much needed classroom supplies as part of the Teacher Reward program.

Walmart and Sam's Club locations are awarding more than 45,000 educators with $100, infusing $4.5 million to schools across America.

"Walmart is committed to supporting the local community and addressing unmet needs," said Smith. "We know that teachers are on tight budgets to provide supplies for their classrooms and Teacher Rewards helps offset those costs."

"The teachers will decide how to spend the money to provide some much needed supplies for the school," said Laviolette, principal. "I guess we have some shopping to do."

Each Walmart store, Distribution Center and Sam's Club location across the U.S. will select one local kindergarten through eighth grade school and provide $1,000 to selected schools. All of Wal-Mart's 4,558 facilities nationwide are eligible to participate in the Teacher Rewards program.

In 2009, educators' top purchases through the Teacher Rewards program included 25,000 report folders, 24,000 packs of pens, pencils and crayons, 14,000 packs of paper, 13,000 packs of markers and 10,000 binders and clipboards. In addition to other essentials items - showing teachers need basic supplies to help support their classrooms.

This is the second year Walmart has supported educators with Teacher Rewards, as part of the company's ongoing support of education initiatives. In 2009, Walmart and its Foundation gave more than $53 million to fund educational programs in communities across the country.